Five majors announce Project ASMAN to reduce maternal and newbornmortality in India

The initiative is an alliance between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, MSD India (through its MSD for Mothers programme), Reliance Foundation, Tata Trusts and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Project Ä€SMÄ€N will work towards facilitating the availability of quality healthcare under the five pillars of the Government of India’s Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Adolescent Health Program (RMNCH+A).

The alliance has structured its model in consultation with the National Health Mission (NHM)and will be working in synergy with the Government of India at the centre and state levels.

The initiative was jointly unveiled by AlkeshWadhwani, Deputy Director, Integrated Delivery, India, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Kenneth C Frazier, Chairman & CEO, MSD, Smt. Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson Reliance Foundation, R. K. Krishna Kumar, Trustee – Tata Trusts and Ambassador Jonathan Addleton, Mission Director, USAID/India, India at a special event in the presence of Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister for Women & Child Development, Government of India, Jagdish Prasad, Director General Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. Senior government officials, medical professionals and representatives from the development sector also attended the event.

Commenting on the partnership of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with Ä€SMÄ€N, AlkeshWadhwani, Deputy Director, Integrated Delivery, India, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said, “The foundation is deeply committed to improving maternal and child health in India. We believe that the health of mothers and children merits particular attention, given India’s share of the overall burden of maternal and child mortality, and we have made it the focus of our work in India. We decided to partner with Ä€SMÄ€N because we strongly believe the combined efforts of our alliance will help significantly advance our collective commitment of expanding access to maternal and child health in India and help ensure that women and children not only survive but thrive. Through this alliance, our foundation will continue its commitment of partnering the government in achieving its ambitious goals to improve women and child health and prioritise equitable growth.”

Kenneth Frazier, MSD said,“We must never lose focus on the health of mothers and children, even one preventable death is unacceptable. Through our MSD for Mothers initiative we are working every day to help create a world where no woman dies giving life. And, by sharing MSD’s scientific and business expertise in this partnership, it is my hope that the combined strengths and contributions of all involved will help create a sustainable model for high impact solutions in India.”

Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundationadded, “I believe that every life must be cared for and we should strive for a healthy India, where no mother is lost to child birth and every child can live life to his or her fullest potential. This is possible through smart, strong and sustainable partnerships. I am proud to be part of an alliance with which Reliance Foundation shares such strong synergies – institutions that share the same passion and commitment to tackle massive national challenges on a mission mode. For me, this partnership goes beyond just funding but leveraging our rich institutional experience, valued expertise and a strong shared commitment to improving mother and child survival in India. Ä€SMÄ€N gives me hope that change is possible.”